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2014-03-01

Egyptian military chief hails close ties with UAE

by Staff Major/ Yousuf AL Haddad

‏Egyptian Armed Forces chief of staff, LIEUTENANT GENERAL SEDKI SOBHI, has stressed the close ties between the UAE and his nation. He says that the UAE’s economic and political support during this period of challenges and change during and following the June 30 Revolution will never be forgotten by Egyptians.

‏In an exclusive interview with the Nation Shield magazine, Lt. General Sobhi also emphasized that Egyptian national security is intertwined with that of the UAE.

‏The Egyptian military chief stressed that the Egyptian armed forces have achieved, in collaboration with his country’s police force, major successes in fighting terrorism, including on the Sinai, and that terrorist cells have been uprooted by using state-of-the-art means across the spectrum, thereby bringing about security and stability.

‏He also indicated that Egypt is open in its military relations to all major powers – Eastern and Western – as it attempts to diversify the sources of armaments for its armed forces.

‏What were the major subjects and issues discussed with the UAE armed forces senior officials during your visit?

‏Egyptian national security is connected with the security of the Arabian Gulf and the UAE, hence the importance of the discussions of ways to strengthen and develop joint relations in military cooperation, including mutual qualification of military officers, military training and exchange of expertise.

‏The Egyptian Armed Forces have vast experience and extensive expertise in civil service - what are the most important lessons that can be derived from your experience in this field?

‏The armed forces provide their services for the civilian sector to help carry out comprehensive development in the country. To this end, they utilize the potential of their different bodies, particularly, the National Service Projects Organization, General Services Organization of the Armed Forces Engineering Authority. This is to, for example, make foodstuff products available to prevent monopolies and stabilize prices, construct service stations, build commercial service compounds in new residential cities, as well as schools, youth hostels, city squares and sports stadia.

‏They also construct bread production compounds, provide medical services for armed forces personnel, their families and civilians in military hospitals and outpatients departments, and develop and expand highways.

‏We understand the volume of strategic challenges faced by the Egyptian Armed Forces at present. Can we know the progress achieved in counter-terrorism operations in Sinai Peninsula? Do you expect that terrorists will be exterminated in this vital region?

‏The Egyptian Armed Forces have achieved, in collaboration with the Civil Police, major successes in fighting terrorism in Sinai, using all state-of-the-art means, ways and machinery, and are able to exterminate those terrorist cells in order to restore security and stability in the country.

‏Is there any tendency for the Egyptian Armed Forces to diversify the sources of armaments in the future through cooperation with countries such as Russia and China?

‏Egypt is open in its military relations to all major powers. It attempts to diversify sources of armaments for its armed forces from the various Eastern and Western militaries.

‏Cooperation with any country doesn’t aim to replace relations with any other nation. Besides the diversification of the sources of weapons, we focus on arms and equipment we possess and which we attempt to enhance.

‏Will the Egyptian Armed Forces see changes in training?

‏Training is the main task of the armed forces during peacetime. We have annual training plans in all areas of the armed forces to maintain combat efficiency and high and constant fighting readiness of our armed forces. Training is formulated and executed on the basis of potential armed forces’ missions and assessment of challenges and threats to maintain realize security and safety and to bolster stability and enhance development.

‏The Egyptian Armed Forces played an important role in responding to the demands of the Egyptian people on June 30, 2013 – how do you see the future role of the forces?

‏The role and tasks of the Armed Forces are specified as per the Constitution. Thus, the responsiveness by the Egyptian Armed Forces to the demands of the people was an inevitable situation dictated by national interests and protection of the country. The armed forces will always support citizens by protecting Egyptian national security and dealing with any interior and foreign challenges and threats. They will also support civil authorities in various projects to enhance the country’s development.

‏What is your view of the challenges faced by Egypt, especially from the military viewpoint, and how they will be met?

‏The main challenges are to keep combat efficiency and readiness through continued training and preparation plans, which should not be affected by the additional missions undertaken by the armed forces at present, in addition to the defense of Egyptian borders and coasts and combating smuggling and various methods of infiltration.

‏How do you see the likely evolution of mutual relations between the UAE and Egypt? Is military cooperation progressing in parallel with cooperation in other areas? What are the current cooperation plans?

‏The UAE is a sisterly country, and its strong stand and infinite political and economic support of Egypt in the current critical stage is at a historic period in time that will never be forgotten by Egyptians. They are all grateful to the UAE’s political, diplomatic and economic support of the June 30 Revolution.

‏The excellent relations between the governments and people of the two countries were established by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and subsequently supported strongly by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE President. These relations include military cooperation. We are currently working together to promote and develop many fields of cooperation.

‏You would know that the UAE has decided to put introduce mandatory military service. What are the major advantages of this in the light of your experience in the Egyptian Armed Forces?

‏National military service is a duty of every citizen due to its effective and positive role in refining the skills of young men in various fields and training them to observe discipline and bear the great responsibility of defending their homeland and its integrity. The military service enriches the character of the youth and this assists when they return to the civilian sector.

‏The defense industries sector in the UAE has witnessed great progress in recent years. Therefore, what is your opinion on what has been achieved? What is your feeling concerning the future of this sector in the UAE and other Arab countries?

‏The defense industries sector in the UAE has witnessed great progress recently. This drives towards achieving integration in defense industries and transfer of technology which meets the requirements of the armed forces of both countries. I feel it is a highly promising sector.

‏Are you worried about the attitudes of certain countries, including major powers, concerning what is taking place in Egypt?

‏Egypt is a pivotal country in the Middle East. What is taking place in Egypt is followed closely by major powers. However, the attitudes of some of those powers have disregarded the people’s will which vital - to remove a fascist religious rule. No doubt, these powers see the real position about what is taking place inside the country and the Egyptian people’s rejection of violence and terrorism. I would like to clearly point to the amazing results and public rallying for the approval of the constitution to which we hope the world will react positively regarding the situation in Egypt as it currently stands.

‏Has Field Marshal Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi made up his mind about nominating himself for presidency? What is the role of the military in supporting his possible decision to nominate?

‏Field Marshal Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s nomination is a personal decision. He will determine if he feels it is in the interests of the Egyptian people. The media has reported that he has raised the matter with the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.

Appropriately, the Supreme Council has left to him with the freedom of choice.

‏How do you regard the evolution of the modern warfare theories, and what is the role of militaries in the age of fourth-generation warfare?

‏The political and military leadership of Egypt recognizes the tools and mechanisms of non-conventional warfare, such as fourth- and fifth-generation warfare. It takes the measures that prevent any plans that target the forces, Egypt and its stability. The Egyptian military intends protecting the nation from penetration and information warfare. It follows procedures enabling it deal with all threats and challenges, especially city warfare. It pays special attention to protecting critical targets in the country.

‏Recent years have witnessed the emergence of non-conventional threats and asymmetric warfare which have made training fighters to face such threats an operational necessity. What is the priority in this area?

‏The task undertaken by the armed forces during the past three years to free the public will and achieve security and stability has been an exceptional one. We will continue until the end of parliamentary and presidential elections and restoring the police forces to a level where they can face and handle all internal threats and dangers.

‏Training plans will be adopted to enable forces to encounter various changes and threats. Performance will also be upgraded in light of lessons learnt and expertise gained.

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